SEIYOH MONJI CHIE: WISDOM OF THE WESTERN ALPHABET
rif. 98119401Japan 1875. A small folding album 8 x 17 cm. original blue covers 18p. accordion folded soiled covers verso blank but evidence of a Japanese practicing his attempt at writing in English alphabet128 color woodcut illustrations. A very charming early attempt to teach the Japanese English alphabetical letters and numerals. Folded and reading from traditional left to right this work shows the Japanese the familiar "IROHA" alphabet in both Katakana & Romanized alph- abetical letters Romaji with Hiragana above. The most fa- scinating part are the profuse color woodblock illustrations of familiar Japanese objects each with Romanized letters & the appropriate Japanese. Such cute things as Inu Roonin Hato Niwatori Potsukkuri Pokkuri Hyotan Tonbo Ringo Dobin Soroban Taiko DaikonYoroi Wakizashi Kani Katsuo and a plethora of others. This work basically was used to train the Japanese to read Romaji first for familiar objects and thus begin the process of learning English ultimately to read English letters. Works of this subject are now quite RARE and seldom come to market many were basically used up in the learning process. This example well used cover soil bit thumbed but remarkably complete. Back cover has the Sumi penned date: Meiji 7 nen with a later cover title slip pasted on and Sumi ink title written. Brief commentary on the English language some text worn away balance complete. unknown
